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FeB. 3. 1925. 1,524,780

A. w. BRUCE LOCOMOTIVE Filed Aug. '7, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 1e wrr ES$E5 FIG. 2 1

A. W. BRUCE LOCOMOTIVE Filed Aug. 7

' Feb. '3. 1925.

, 1924' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESJES Wm WM Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALFRED W. BRUCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

.LOCOMOTIVE.

Application filed August 7, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED lV. BnUon, a

. citizen of the United States, and a. resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locomotives, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to locomotive engines of the three cylinder type, and its object is to provide means for disposing the middle cylinder of a locomotive of such type, relatively to the main frame and side cylinders, and connecting it to the main frame and bumper beam, whereby lightness and strength. will be ensured; flexibility ensured in the application of a third cylinder to existing locomotives; and capability afforded for the application of boiler tubes of increased length, when necessary or desirable.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, of a locomotive engine, illustrating an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a plan View of the same, with the boiler removed; Figs. 3 and l, vertical transverse sections, on an enlarged scale, on the lines o b and c 0, respectively, of Fig. 5; and, Fig. 5, a horizontal section, on the line a a of Fig. 1.

In the practice of my invention, referring descriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, the boiler, 11, of the locomotive, is supported upon an integral connecting casting, comprising a middle steam cylinder, 1; and two side frame members, 1, 1, extending horizontally on opposite sides of the cylinder, forwardly and reamvardly therefrom. A saddle, 1, extending vertically above the cylinder, 1, and which is adapted to form a seat for the boiler, is also, as shown, for certain applications, formed integral with the middle cyhnder and side frame members. The side frame members are strengthened by upper and lower outwardly projecting flanges, and vertical flanges, 1 are formed on their for aid ends, and bolted. to the front bumper beam, 2, of the locomotive. The rear end port-ions of the side frame members, 1, 1 are rigidly secured to the main frame members, 3, 3.

The middle cylinder, 1, and saddle, 1, are located at any desired distance forward of the two side cylinders, 1. 1", with the axis of the middle cylinder in the same horizon- Serial No. 730,601.

tal plane as the axes of the side cylinders, and the side frame members of the connecting casting, which are connected by upper and lower horizontal webs, 1 1 so as to be of box form, at the portion of their length adjoining the side cylinders, 1, 1", are recessed to receive the main frame members, 3, 3, to which, and to the side cylinders, they are rigidly secured by bolts, -l, and nuts, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The piston rod, 5, of the middle cylinder extends rearwardly from the piston thereof, through the box formed portion of the connecting casting, and a cross head, 6, which is secured upon its rear end, slides on guides, 7, connected to the top of the connecting casting. The cross head, 6, is coupled, by a main connecting rod, 8, to the pin of a pair of crank arms, 9, on the front driving axle, 10. The truck of the locomotive is pivotally connected to the connecting casting, by a centre pin, passing through centre casting, i on the bottom web, 1 of the con necting casting. Steam is supplied to the middle cylinder through steam pipes, 12,

and exhausted therefrom through an exhaust pipe, 13, and is supplied to the side cylinders through steam pipes, 1 1;, and exhausted through exhaust pipes, 15. The supply and exhaust of steam, to and from the several cylinders, are controlled by distribution valve gear, of any suitable and preferred known construction, which does not form part of my present invention.

My invention hereinbefore described, while more particularly designed for original locomotive construction, is also particularly applicable in the conversion or reconstruction of two cylinder locomotives into those of the three cylinder type, by reason of the facility which it affords for the utilization of existing boilers, main frames, and other members of the original locomotive structure, and for the application and rigid support of cross head guides for the middle cylinder, the location. of which may be such as to admit of a main connecting rod of any desired length.

It will be obvious to those familiar with locomotive design and construction, that, in the conversion of a two cylinder into a three cylinder locomotive, in accordance with my invention, the boiler may be either increased in length, by being extended forwardly of the side cylinders, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to provide increased tube heating surface and steam room, or, if considered to be of sufficient capacity, be allowed to remain in its original condition, its smoke box end being supported on the saddle member, 1, of the connecting casting, through any suitable form of intermediate connection- I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent":

1. In a locomotive engine of the three cylinder type, the combination of a middle cylinder; and integral side frame members, extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, on opposite sides thereof.

2. In a locomotive engine of the three cylinder type, the combination of a middle cylinder; an integral boiler seat saddle, ex-

tending vertically above said cylinder; and

integral side framemembers, extending for- Wardly and rearwardly from said cylinder,

on opposite sides thereof.

3'. In a locomotive engine of the three cylinder type, the combination of a middle cylinder; integral side frame members, extending forwardly and rearwardly there from, on opposite sides thereof; and independent main frame members, rigidly secured to therear end portions of the side frame members.

4. In. a locomotive engine of the three cylinder type, the combination of a middle cylinder; integral side frame members, extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof; independent main frame members, rigidly secured to the rear end portions of the side frame members; and a bumper beam, rigidly secured 0 to the frontlendsofsaid sidefiame members.

5; In a locomotive engine of the three cylinder type, the combination ofa middle N cylinder; integralside frame members, ex-

tending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, on opposite sides thereof; independ- 7. In a locomotive engine of the three cylinder type, the combination of a middle cylinder; integral side frame members, extending forwardly and reaiwvardly therefrom, and connected by an integral web at their rear end portions; and a truck centering member, integral with the rear end portions of the side frame members.

8. In a locomotive engine of the three cylinder type, the combination of a middle cylinder; an integral boiler seat saddle, extending vertically above said cylinder; integral side frame members, extending for- Wardly and rearwardly from said cylinder,

on opposite sides thereof; side cylinders, secured to said side frame members; and a boiler supported on the boiler seat saddle.

9. In a locomotive engine of the three cylinder type, an integral connecting structure, comprising a middle cylinder; side frame members, extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, on opposite sides thereof; and a boiler seat saddle. extending vertically above the middle cylinder.

ALFRED IV. BRUCE. \Vitnesses:

FRED A. lVADswon'm-I, Lns'rnn SPANGENBERG. 

